I was expecting five things to happen yesterday when the Washington Wizards faced against the Indiana Pacers last night.
First, for some background: Wizards were 10-40 (They had a one-in-five-chance of winning last night's game), while the second-to-last team in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers, were 20-31, TEN more wins than the woeful Wizards. On top of this, SF/SG Caron Butler was out with the flu for the past two games, so he was a GTD (Game-Time-Decision). Also, in the game before for both teams, Indiana All-Star SF Danny Granger scored 33 pts in a win against the Orlando Magic; while the Wizards were blown out in a 124-103 game against the Denver Nuggets, a game where the Nuggets held a 30+ point lead during the game.
Here were my top ten expectations:
1. Wizards would lose again (after all, they did have a 1:4 chance of winning the game)
2. The seats I had (Section 106, Row G) would be great not only b/c of the view, but also b/c of the 'clappers' I would get during the game, since the seats were right behind the hoop
3. Caron Butler and PF Antawn Jamison would combine for: 50 pts, 15 reb. and 8 asts.
4. I would be leaving midway through the fourth quarter, when the bench players would be playing major minutes, in another blowout loss.
5. The arena - Verizon Center - will be quiet throughout, with a crowd of 10,000
Here's how the game fared:
What a time to go to the game! With a crowd of 13,708 (i believe it's the biggest crowd this week), the Wizards gave every person their money's worth.
Let's go back to my expectations:
1. They actually won! i witnessed one of their 11 wins!
2. I didn't get any 'clappers', but I did get TWO buzzer-beaters - one by Jamison in the end of the third quarter and the MJ-like step-back fadeaway jumper by Butler to seal the deal.
3. Here is the Buter + Jamison combo stat line: 69 points (AJ: 34, CB: 35); 19 reb. (AJ: 6, CB: 13); 6 asts (3 by both players) ; and 3 steals. MUCH better than I predicted.
4. I stayed throughout the game, arriving 20 min. prior to the game, and dashing to the Metro after the fourth quarter buzzer sounded.
5. The crowd was 13,708, which was 3,708 more than I expected. The first half was quiet - just as I suspected - but was unusually LOUD in the second half! :)
I also got a nice laugh from the jumbotron. In the fourth quarter, during a timeout, PF Darius Songalia was asked several questions about which he would rather have (Recorded prior to the game), such as: Mustard vs. Ketchup (He chose Ketchup) and Guitar Hero vs. Rock Band (He wasn't fond of either). But what took the cake was this question: Which would you rather have: a Blonde or a Brunette?
His answer: "Both!"
Well, here is today's Video(s) of the Day. It is of Caron's last two buzzer-beaters. Better shots, but not as noteworthy as last night's bucket.
Impressed?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The Garden is on Fire!
Wow. What to say! After Kobe's 61-point performance on Monday and LeBron's 50 + triple-double last night, I wonder what the Knicks are in for when the Celtics come to town. Could there be two triple-doubles today - one by Rondo and one by Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce? As KG said in the last game of the '08 NBA Finals, "Anything is Possible!"
LeBron's output was statistically unbelievable - the kind of unbelieveable that Wilt Chamberlain puts on his opponents almost daily during his professional career. A triple-double is amazing. But having not only a triple-double but ALSO 50 POINTS is out-of-this-world.
Here's his performance last night:
Even in fantasy standards, he had a monster game. Typically, elite players, such as LeBron, average about 35 fantasy points per game (using cbssports fantasy statistics). That output is about as musch as a triple-double. Yesterday he had 84 fantasy points. EIGHTY FOUR POINTS! Unbelievable!
Let's see what the Big 4 - Rajon Rondo, KG, Pierce and Ray Allen - can produce today against the defense-depleted Knicks.
The sky is the limit, Boston!
Now, to conclude today's post, I have today's Daily Video. It is of the original NBA on NBC theme, Roundball Rock, by John Tesh.
Enjoy!
LeBron's output was statistically unbelievable - the kind of unbelieveable that Wilt Chamberlain puts on his opponents almost daily during his professional career. A triple-double is amazing. But having not only a triple-double but ALSO 50 POINTS is out-of-this-world.
Here's his performance last night:
Even in fantasy standards, he had a monster game. Typically, elite players, such as LeBron, average about 35 fantasy points per game (using cbssports fantasy statistics). That output is about as musch as a triple-double. Yesterday he had 84 fantasy points. EIGHTY FOUR POINTS! Unbelievable!
Let's see what the Big 4 - Rajon Rondo, KG, Pierce and Ray Allen - can produce today against the defense-depleted Knicks.
The sky is the limit, Boston!
Now, to conclude today's post, I have today's Daily Video. It is of the original NBA on NBC theme, Roundball Rock, by John Tesh.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Wow... Long Time no Post!
After a 2-year-long hiatus, I look forward to posting my musings on daily sports news, such as:
* The NBA is introducing H-O-R-S-E to the All-Star festivities on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day). I wonder who the three participants will be? LeBron, Kobe and Wade? Now that would be something to see. Outdoors, you say? Now, that will be a little different...
Hopefully, the event won't be this bad:
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/02/03/all.star.horse.ap/index.html)
* Speaking of All-Star festivities, I disagree that there was a fan vote to include a ROOKIE to take part in the Slam Sunk contest. Wasn't it the norm to have 5+ players dunk and have many rounds and no multiple trials? Now the dunk contest has a subpar dunker (Rudy Fernandez) with three superior dunkers.
This may happen to Rudy if he tries out a dunk on All-Star Saturday night.
* I like the All-Star game rosters, though I believe Allen Iverson robbed a young guard (i.e. Rondo, Mo Williams, Devin Harris... etc.) from a starting guard position. That is a travesty. I believe the coaches and players should also have a say in choosing the starting All-Star lineups.
* Speaking of the NBA, what a performance by Kobe Bryant yesterday! See for yourself:
Wowza! In addition, Pau Gasol - Kobe's sidekick - had 31 points of his own, making that: 61 + 31 = 92 points just from this tandem.
I think that one day Kobe will eclipse 100 points. It's just a matter of When.
* I was listening to the radio today (ESPN980 - Washington DC ESPN Radio) with the Sports Reporters and listened to the most BIZARRE talk about how Manny... yes, that Manny... could be going to the Nats...
HOW RIDICULOUS! INSANE! this won't happen in a MILLION years!
* What happened to the excellent local college basketball teams? Maryland (14-8, 3-5) and Georgetown (13-8, 4-6) used to have an excellent programs and above .500 conference records, and now are shriveling up! Both might be on the outside looking in come March Madness! Even teams such as Virginia Tech, Providence and Boston College have better records then these teams. I'm also hearing rumors that Gary Williams could be fired soon, but that's not likely...
* I HATE how people - commentators and columnists included - are calling this past Sunday's Super Bowl as the BEST ever. How does this Super Bowl surpass Super Bowl XLVII, with the Eli-scramble-and-Tyree-helmet-glued-to-ball play? There were WAY TOO MANY penalties, esp. holding penalties in the game. One penalty that stood out was the roughing-the-passer penalty on the Cards when there should have been an intentional grounding penalty on big Ben Roethlisberger (yay! i spelled Ben's last name correctly w/o checking online!).
Well, that's all for today. But before I'll leave, I'll include a video of the day. Today's is from the 2008 ESPY awards acknowledging the best of all sports from 2007-2008.
Enjoy!
* The NBA is introducing H-O-R-S-E to the All-Star festivities on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day). I wonder who the three participants will be? LeBron, Kobe and Wade? Now that would be something to see. Outdoors, you say? Now, that will be a little different...
Hopefully, the event won't be this bad:
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/02/03/all.star.horse.ap/index.html)
* Speaking of All-Star festivities, I disagree that there was a fan vote to include a ROOKIE to take part in the Slam Sunk contest. Wasn't it the norm to have 5+ players dunk and have many rounds and no multiple trials? Now the dunk contest has a subpar dunker (Rudy Fernandez) with three superior dunkers.
This may happen to Rudy if he tries out a dunk on All-Star Saturday night.
* I like the All-Star game rosters, though I believe Allen Iverson robbed a young guard (i.e. Rondo, Mo Williams, Devin Harris... etc.) from a starting guard position. That is a travesty. I believe the coaches and players should also have a say in choosing the starting All-Star lineups.
* Speaking of the NBA, what a performance by Kobe Bryant yesterday! See for yourself:
Wowza! In addition, Pau Gasol - Kobe's sidekick - had 31 points of his own, making that: 61 + 31 = 92 points just from this tandem.
I think that one day Kobe will eclipse 100 points. It's just a matter of When.
* I was listening to the radio today (ESPN980 - Washington DC ESPN Radio) with the Sports Reporters and listened to the most BIZARRE talk about how Manny... yes, that Manny... could be going to the Nats...
HOW RIDICULOUS! INSANE! this won't happen in a MILLION years!
* What happened to the excellent local college basketball teams? Maryland (14-8, 3-5) and Georgetown (13-8, 4-6) used to have an excellent programs and above .500 conference records, and now are shriveling up! Both might be on the outside looking in come March Madness! Even teams such as Virginia Tech, Providence and Boston College have better records then these teams. I'm also hearing rumors that Gary Williams could be fired soon, but that's not likely...
* I HATE how people - commentators and columnists included - are calling this past Sunday's Super Bowl as the BEST ever. How does this Super Bowl surpass Super Bowl XLVII, with the Eli-scramble-and-Tyree-helmet-glued-to-ball play? There were WAY TOO MANY penalties, esp. holding penalties in the game. One penalty that stood out was the roughing-the-passer penalty on the Cards when there should have been an intentional grounding penalty on big Ben Roethlisberger (yay! i spelled Ben's last name correctly w/o checking online!).
Well, that's all for today. But before I'll leave, I'll include a video of the day. Today's is from the 2008 ESPY awards acknowledging the best of all sports from 2007-2008.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 19, 2007
12 Days of Christmas - NFL 2007 Style
Sang to the tune of "12 Days of Christmas," this is how the 2007 NFL regular season went:
"On the twelfth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Colts, Packers and ‘Boys Thanksgiving victories, 8 TD’s by T.O. and Randy, a Vinatieri-missed FG, a record-296 yards by AP, Brady and Manning beating every NFL team, Rob Bironas 8 FG’s, Vinny becoming the oldest starting QB to win a game in NFL history, a Stellar Steelers shutout against the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XL, Farve surpassing Marino in career passing TD’s, a goal-line stand by the New York football Giants in D.C., an Ohio shootout and a Broncos’ OT victory, and a Jason Elam game-winning FG”
"On the thirteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Gibbs timeout blunder, 8 TD’s by T.O. and Randy, a Vinatieri-missed FG, a record-296 yards by AP, Brady and Manning beating every NFL team, Rob Bironas 8 FG’s, Vinny becoming the oldest starting QB to win a game in NFL history, a Stellar Steelers shutout against the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XL, Farve surpassing Marino in career passing TD’s, a goal-line stand by the New York football Giants in D.C., an Ohio shootout and a Broncos’ OT victory, and a Jason Elam game-winning FG”
"On the fourteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me:
"On the fifteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: a blustery ‘Skins victory, Gibbs timeout blunder, 8 TD’s by T.O. and Randy, a Vinatieri-missed FG, a record-296 yards by AP, Brady and Manning beating every NFL team, Rob Bironas 8 FG’s, Vinny becoming the oldest starting QB to win a game in NFL history, a Stellar Steelers shutout against the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XL, Farve surpassing Marino in career passing TD’s, a goal-line stand by the New York football Giants in D.C., an Ohio shootout and a Broncos’ OT victory, and a Jason Elam game-winning FG”
"On the sixteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: A takedown of a Packer by a referee, a blustery ‘Skins victory, Gibbs timeout blunder, 8 TD’s by T.O. and Randy, a Vinatieri-missed FG, a record-296 yards by AP, Brady and Manning beating every NFL team, Rob Bironas 8 FG’s, Vinny becoming the oldest starting QB to win a game in NFL history, a Stellar Steelers shutout against the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XL, Farve surpassing Marino in career passing TD’s, a goal-line stand by the New York football Giants in D.C., an Ohio shootout and a Broncos’ OT victory, and a Jason Elam game-winning FG”
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Everyone!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Hopefully tonight's MLB All-Star game will not be unwatchable, but instead a hard-fought slugfest. Look @ the top of the starting lineup for the American League. They have Ichiro batting leadoff, DJ next, then the tenacious trio of A-Rod, Big Papi and Vlad the Impaler. The NL has a starting lineup of Reyes, B*nds, Beltran, Junior, Wright and Fielder leading off the game. But that is just the cream of the crop.
The AL reserves, as well as the NL reserves, are also stacked. The AL has "Hip, hip Jorge!" Posada, 2006 AL MVP Morneau, Torii Hunter - who robbed Barry Bonds of a home run in Milwaukee - and "Manny being Manny" Ramirez. The NL has Derrek Lee, "Winnie-the-Pujols", Matt "I am on a" Holliday, Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano. And i haven't even gone to pitching.
The starting pitchers are Dan Haren - who has a superb 2.20 ERA, and Jake Peavy - the best pitcher in the National League. The AL has 12-2 Josh Beckett, reliever Jonathan Papelbon, an excellent closer in JJ Putz, and two of the best in the Major Leagues, Justin Verlander and Johan Santana. The NL has Francisco Cordero, who has 27 saves, a young phenom in Cole Hamels and the #1 closer all-time in Trevor Hoffman.
I believe that the National League will come up on top, winning 12 - 9.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Sports Similarities
(http://www.vale.k12.or.us/)Has anyone noticed the eerie similarities between many teams in different sports? I have.
For instance, there is the leader of his team, the player that won or could possibly win many MVP trophies - yes, I am talking about Canadian-born and the face of the Phoenix Suns' franchise, point guard Steve Nash, and 2007 Super Bowl MVP and the face of the Indianapolis Colts' franchise, quarterback Peyton Manning. Before last year, these two teams - the Colts and the Suns - would constantly meet in the semifinals, being denied every time by the better team.
There are also the similarities between the two dynasties in
both the NBA and the NFL. Both the New England Patriots and the San Antonio Spurs won 3+ titles in the last five years. Both have a nonchalant leader - power forward Tim Duncan and quarterback Tom Brady. Both have a top-five defense in the league annually, and have a top-notch veteran defensive stopper - small forward Bruce Bowen and strong safety Rodney Harrison. Lastly, both dynasties have a key veteran that they signed in the offseason - sharpshooter Michael Finley and outside linebacker Adalius Thomas.There is the all-purpose player - running back LaDanian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers and small forward LeBron James. There is also the free-spending team - the Washington Redskins, New York Knicks and the New York Yankees.
The top rivalries in both the NFL and MLB are alike, since one o
f the teams in both rivalries are reddish in color and the other team is whitish in color with blue outlines. I am talking about the Washington Redskins against the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees.Then there are the teams which find their players almost always behind bars. The 2006-2007 Cincinnati Bengals and the early 2000 Portland Trail Blazers were the bad boys of the NFL and the NBA.
The player in the clutch comes up huge nearly every game - Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Adam Vinatieri of the New England Patriots and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.
There is also the all-star duo in the MLB, the NBA and in the NFL - the Batman and Robin of sports. In the MLB, there is the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (Robin) and Derek Jeter (Batman). In the NBA there was Shaquille O'Neal (Batman) and Kobe Bryant (Robin) and is Shaq and Dwayne Wade (Robin). In the NFL there is Marvin Harrison (Robin) and Peyton Manning (Batman).
If you do not believe me, watch the NBA, MLB and NFL games on your tube. You will see the comparisons between these teams and players.
Pictures: Steve Nash (www.i-sportsbook.com), Tom Brady (www.baltimoresun.com), Three Spurs (www.sportsresourcezone.net), Red Sox vs. Yankees (point23.blogspot.com), Redskins vs. Cowboys (www.washingtonpost.com)
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